Combination packer and setting tool



March 17, 1931.

COMBI J. D. NIXON ET AL NATION PACKER AND SETTING TOOL F'iled Oct. 18, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l "NTORJ March 17, 1931- J. D. NIXON ET AL C OMBINATION PACKER AND SETTING TOOL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1926 March 17, 1931. A NIXON ET AL 1,797,177

COMBINATION PACKE'R AND SETTING IOOL F'iled Oct. 18, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 fi t Q i /T 5 v A4 I gwuentow J j & AMM

% Nat/7W Patented Mar. 17, 1931 warren stares arm oFFica JEDDY D. NIXON AND WALTER IL. GHURGH, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS COMBINATION PACKER AND SETTING. TOOL Application filed October 18, 1926. Serial No. 142,276.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combination packer and setting tool.

One object of the invention is to provide ua device of the character described which includes an expansible packer for forming a water tight joint between the walls of a well bore, or casing in the well, and an inside pipe, or liner, in the said bore, or cas 1 ing, and comprehends also a tool for setting or expanding the packerand means for holdi'ng the packer in expanded position.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described through which the liner, or inside pipe, may be set in the bore and the packer thus expanded so as to form a water tight.

joint between the upper end of said inside pipe and the casing, orwallsof the bore, and the setting tool released and withdrawn.-

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a packer setting tool, of the character described, in combination with means operatively connected therewith and with a back pressure valve mounted in the set shoe, carried by the lower end of thewell screen, whereby the said valve may be suitably controlled in the process of washing said screen after it is set in the well bore. With the above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein I I Figure 1 shows a-vertical sectional view of the upper end of said tool.

Figure 2 shows a vertical sectional view of the lower end thereof. 1

Figure 3 shows a vertical sectional view of the back pressure valve showing the packer and wash pipe associated therewith.

Figure 4 shows a side elevation, partly in section, of the guide point attached to the lower end of the set shoe.

Figure 5 shows a bottom end view 'of said guide point.

Figure 6 shows a side elevation, partly in expanded by the mandrel.

section, of the upper end of the setting tool in position to expand the packer.

Figure 7 shows a vertical sectional view of the lower end thereof.

Figure 8 shows a side elevation, partly in section, of a control valve, shown in position for washing the inside of the screen.

Figure 9 shows a side elevation, partly in section, of the expansible bushing employed, and

Figure 10 shows a cross sectional view of the setting tool taken on the line 10-10 of- Figure 2. v

. Referring nowmore particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures the numeral 1 designates a casing which is set in the well bore, and the numeral 2 designates the stem, or string of pipe, which extends up to the ground surface and through which the packer and setting tool are handled. A coupling 3 is screwed on to the lower end of this stem and a tubular mandrel head 4 is threaded into the lower end of this coupling. The numeral 5 designates a tubular mandrel whose upper end is attached to the lower end of the head 4 and whose lower end is flared, as at 6, and externally threaded. On the mandrel there is an expansible bushing 7 whose lower end is vertically slotted forming the flared expansible jaws 8 which are internally threaded to receive the lower flared end of the man- 7 drel andwhich are provided with the external bosses 9. A release sleeve 10' is fitted snugly over the upper end ofthe bushing 7, the extreme lower end of said release sleeve being flare of the jaws 8, and the upper end of this release sleeve is normally spaced beneath the mandrel head 4.

A tubular barrel 12v is provided whose upper end has the recesses, 13 to receive the bosses 9 when the jaws 8, of the bushing, are The lower end of this barrel 12 carries an annular pacldng ring 14 and connected to. said lower end of the barrel and depending beneath it is. the liner or insid P P' 1 5 wh h extends to the over the mandrel with its lower end fitting flared, as at 11, to conform to the bottom of the bore and usually oneormore joints of it are perforated and formed into a screen, as at 16, of preferred construction, provided forthe purpose of permitting the inflow of oil into the liner but excluding sand and the like. Attached to the bottom of the screen is the usual set shoe 17, which carries the guide point 18 and which is equipped with the conventional back pressure valve 19, said guide point resting upon the bottom of the bore.

The threaded connections, hereinbefore referred to, are formed with right hand threads.

There is a sleeve like packing element 20 around the barrel 12 with its lower end abutting ring 14, and secured to the barrel in any suitable manner, as by wrapping the same with wire 21.

Fitted overthe upper end of the barrel 12 there is a collar 22 whose upper end has Vertical slots 23 forming yieldable dogs 24 integral therewith. The upper end of the barrel 12 has external left hand buttress vthreads 25 and dogs 24 are correspondingly threaded so as to mesh with the threads 25. The upper end of the packing element 20 is secured to the collar 22 in any suitable manner, as by wrapping the same with wire 26.

Threaded on to the collar 22 there is a tubular setting nipple 27 whose upper end is preferably outwardly flared, as at 28 to receive a lead seal, for the purpose hereinafter explained, or so that tools will readily enter it when it is desired to work through the same.

Threaded into the upper end of the mandrel head 4 there is a bushing 29 having left hand threads and provided with polygonal opening 30 therethrough to receive the correspondingly shaped upper end 31ofthe tubular wash pipe 32. This wash pipe works through the mandrel and extends on down through the barrel-12, the liner 15. and the screen 16 and its lower end is also polygonal in form. I

Threaded into the upper end of set shoe 17 there is an annular anchor 34 having a central tapped hole 35 whose lower end is flared forming a smooth seat 36 and threaded .tlirough this anchor there is a tubular Valve 37 whose shank is externally threaded. The

lower endof the valve 37 is closed by the cap, 38 whose upper end is beveled, as at 39 and thus conformed to the contour of and adapted to seat against the seat 36.

The upper end of the valve 37 has an external annular shoulder 40 adapted to abut againstthe anchor 34 and above said shoulder 34 the valve 37 has a socket 41, polygonal in cross section, and adapted to receive the lower end 33 of the wash pipe 32. The upper end of said socket is flared, as at 42 so as to direct the said end of said wash pipe into 'lar 22, downwardly said socket. The shank of the valve 37 has the radial ports 43 intermediate its ends. I The operation of the device is as follows The apparatus is assembled, as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive with the flared portion 6, of the mandrel, screwed into the bushing 7 so as to expand the jaws thereof and with the bosses 9 seated in the recesses 13 of the barrel 12 with the square lower end of the wash. pipe seated in the socket 41 of the valve 37. The liner and screen, assembled as shown, are connected to the lower end of the barrel 12 and the complete apparatus, as thus assembled, is connected, as explained, to the stem 2. When thus assembled the mandrel head 4 will be spaced above the upper end of the release sleeve 10 and the lower end of the coupling 3 will be spaced a some what greater distance above the upper end of the setting nipple 27 but a rigid connection will be provided between the stem and liner, and said liner and the screen may be forced down until the guide point 18 is seated on the bottom of the bore. In this position the ports 43 will be beneath the anchor 34 and water may be forced down through the wash pipe and on down through the valve 37 and out of the ports 43, lifting the downwardly opening valve 19 and passing on out through the discharge port 44 at the bottom of the guide point 18 and said water passes up around the outside of the screen 16 and washes the same. When it is desired to set the packer 30 the stem 2 may be rotated to the right and the mandrel 6 thus screwed out of the bushing 7, as is shown in Figure 7. As it is rotated the wash pipe 32 will also be turned and the valve 37, having the left hand threads, will be partly screwed up through the anchor 34, but not a sufficient distance to carry the ports 43 above said anchor. The mandrel 5, with its head 4 will move downwardly relative to the wash pipe and the lower end ofsaid head will strike the upper end of the release sleeve 10 and drive its lower end over the jaws 8 and contract them so as to release the bosses 9 from the bearings'13 and the bushing 7 and the release sleeve 10 are thus permitted to move on down into the barrel 12 and thereupon the lower end of the collar 3 strikes against the upper end of the setting nipple 27, forcing the same, together with the coland expanding the packing 20 outwardly against the surrounding wall and the packing is held in such expanded position by the dogs 24. The stem 2 is turned to the right, turning the wash pipe 32 with it and thus operating 'to screw the valve 37 on up to carry its ports 43 above the anchor 34. Water, under pressure, may now be forced through the wash pipe and down through the ports 43 and will return up within the inside of the screen 16 and will thoroughly wash out said screen.

The dlstance of the coupling 3 above the seat 28, when the device is assembled, is known. When the mandrel 6 is released from the bushing 8 said stem 2 moves downward- 1y, as explained, the total downward move ment can readily be observed by the work men and this total distance, less the distance of the coupling 3, above-the seat 28, when assembled, will accurately indicate the amount of expansion of thepacking element 20.

When the packer is set the stem 2 may be pulled upwardly carryin the mandrel 5 with it and the bushing 7 eing held eontracted by the release sleeve 10 will clear the barrel 12 and the entiresetting tool may be withdrawn with the stem 2 leaving the packer securely held in expanded position by the collar 22 and dogs 24. As the setting tool is withdrawn, the head 45, carried by the upper end of the wash pipe, will be engaged y the drive bushing 29 and the wash pipe will be pulled out with the setting tool.

In some cases the packer will leak, permitting water to find its way from beneath up past the packer and in other cases the easing above the packer may develop a leak. In such cases a full string of pipe must be connected to the liner and extended to the ground surface as otherwise said water would enter the top of the liner and mingle With the oil.

In packers now in common use this full string of pipe must have its lower end fitted within the packer structure as said structure admits the inflow of water and if said full string were connected on to the top of the structure the leak into the top of the liner would not be shut off. If the string has its lower end fitted within the packer structure it must of necessity be of smaller diameter than said structure and would not therefore provide adequate room for the pump rods and would make it difiicut to work through said string on account of'said restriction. The nipple 27, of the structure herein described, makes the same water tight and in case it becomes necessary to employ a full string of pipe from the packer strdcture'to the surface.

of the ground the ordinary lead seal may be attached to the lower end of said string and the string then lowered until said seal seats on the seat28 and forms a water tight joint LII therewith. It is apparent that the string above the packer may be of the same inside diameter as that of the liner beneath, thus providing a sufficient space for the pump rods or for working through the string when necessary.

What we claim is:

1. In a setting tool, a mandrel, an expansible bushing adapted to fit over and be expanded by said mandrel, a tubular barrel forming a support for a packing element with which the bushing is releasably engaged, when in expanded position, a release sleeve around the bushing and means carried by the mandrel adapted to actuate said 'sleeve into wedging relation with the bushing to contract the same to effect its release from the barrel. K

2. In a setting tool, a flared outwardly threaded mandrel, an expansible bushing internally threaded to receive said mandrel and be expanded thereby, a tubular barrel forming a support, releasible interengaging means carried by said bushing-and barrel and a sleeve like wedge around the bushing, operable by the mandrel and efi'ective'to positively contract the bushing to permit its release from the barrel.

3. In a setting tool a mandrel having a flared outwardly threaded section, an expansible bushing mounted on the mandrel and internally threaded to receive and be expanded by said flared section, said bushing having external bosses, a tubular packer support having bearings to receive said bosses, when the bushing is in an expanded position, a sleeve around the bushing forming means for contracting the bushing to effect its release from said barrel, and means on the mandrel effective to actuate said sleeve into position to contract said bushing upon downward movement of said mandrel.

4. In a setting tool a mandrel having a flared externally threaded expander, an expansible bushing internally threaded to received said expander, said bushing and barrel being provided with means which interlock when the bushing is expanded, a release sleeve formed to wedge around the bushing and forming means effective to contract said bush-f ing, means on the mandrel effective to move said sleeve downwardly upon downward movement of the mandrel to effect the contraction of the bushing, a tubular packer supdrel, a sleeve like wedge around the bushing.

adapted to be forced downwardly by said abutment and forming means for contracting said bushing to release said interlocking means, a packer on said support, means mounted on said support and adapted to operate against, and expand said packer, and interlocking means carried by said support and packer expanding means, respectively, operating-to hold the packer in expanded position. 4

6. A packer setting tool including a mandrel, a flared expander carried thereby, an expansible bushing mounted on the mandrel,

and adapted to receive and be expanded by said expander, a tubular packer support formed to receive and interlock with the bushingwhen the latter is expanded, a sleeve like Wedge around the bushing and an abutment on the mandrel, said abutment and wedge forming means for contracting said bushing to release it from said support, a packer on sald support, a packer expanding element fitted around the support and provided to operate against and expand said packer, and interlocking means carried by the expanding element and packer support, respectively, through which the packer is held in ex panded position.

7. A packer setting tool including a mandrel, a flared externally threaded expander carried thereby, an expansible bushing mounted on the mandrel and internally threaded to receive and mesh with said expander, said bushing and support being provided, one with a bearing and the other with a pro ection adapted to fit into said bearing to interlock said bushing and support when the bushing is expanded, means for releasing said interlocking means, a packer on said support, a packer expanding means around the support and adapted to operate against and expand the packer, engaging dogs car ried by said packer expanding means and adapted to engage with said support and hold the packer expanded.

8. ;A packer setting tool including a mandrel, an expander carried thereby, an expansible bushing inovably mounted on the mandrel and formed to receive and be expanded by the expander, a packer support formed to receive and interlock with' the bushing when the latter is in expanded position, means for contracting said bushing to release it from said support, a packer on said support, a collar surrounding said support, and adapted to operate against and expand said packer, yieldable dogs carried by said collar and in engagement with said support.

9. A packer setting tool including a mandrel, an expander carried thereby, an expansible bushing movably mounted on the mandrel and formed to receive and be expanded by the expander, a packer support formed wlth bearings and bosses on the bushing which project into said bearings when the bushing is in expanded position, a packer on the support, a collar surrounding said support, and adapted to operate against and expand said packer, a yieldable dog carried by said collar and in engagement with said support, and a tubular extension upstanding from said collar whose upper end is formed with a seat.

' 10. In a setting tool a mandrel, a flared externally threaded expander carried themby, an expansible bushing internally thread ed to receive said expander, a tubular packer support, said support and bushing being provided, one with seats and the other with bosses which interlock in said seats, means for contracting the bushing to release said interlocking means, a packer on said support, means mounted on said support and adapted to operate against and expand said packer, and interlocking means carried by said support and packer expanding means, respectively, operating to hold the packer in expanded position, and upstanding tubular member carried by the packer-expanding means and surrounding said interlocking means, and adapted to actuate the packer expanding means against the packer.

11. In combination, a tubular support, an expansible packing element on said support, a packing expander sustained by said packing element, interlocking means carried by said support and expander, an upstanding tubular member attached to said expander and adapted to actuate the same against said packing element, a mandrel within said tubular member formed with a flared externally threaded expander, an expanslble internally threaded bushing formed to receive and mesh with said flared expander, said bushing and support being prov ded, one with a projection and the other with a seat to receive said projection when said bushing is expanded, to interlock said bushing and support and means for contractmg the bushing to release said interlocking means.

12. A setting tool including a mandrel formed with a flared expander, an expansible bushing adapted to fitover and be expanded by said expander meansfor releasing said expander from said buslnng, a tubular member into which said bushing s fitted, saidtubular member and bushing bemg provided, one with a projection and the other with a seat adapted to receive sa1d pro ection, a sleeve like wedge fitted over sald bushing and forming means for releasing sald bushing from said tubular member.

13. Incombination a well packer for form: ing a seal between a tubular member and the wall of a well bore, a setting tool therefor, 115 a rotatable fluid controlling valve adgacent the lower end of said tubular member and a wash pipe operatively connected with said valve and setting tool and detachable from the valve and operable by said tool to oper- 15. In combination an expansible packer for forming a seal between a tubular member and the walls of a well bore, a setting tool for expanding said packer, a fluid controlling valve in said tubul r member, a wash pipe operatively connected with said valve and tool through which the valve may be operated from said tool.

16. The combination with a tubing and a rotatable fluid controlling valve at the lower end thereof, of a tool for setting a packer between said tubing and the walls of a well bore above said valve and means operatively-connected with said tool and valve and detachable/from the valve through which fluid may be conducted through the packer to the valve and through which the Valve may be operated from said tool.

17 The combination with a tubing and a fluid controlling valve mechanism therein, of a tool for setting a packer between the tubing and the walls of a well bore, a wash pipe operatively connected with said tool and valve mechanism through which fluid maybe delivered through said valve and through which the valve mechanism may be operated from said tool to permit the discharge of said fluid into the tubing either above or beneath the valve.

18. The combination with a pipe, of a valv mechanism in the pipe, said mechanism including an anchor, a valve having an adjustable connection with said anchor and provided with channel leading from the upper end thereof and terminating in a lateral port,

a tubular wash pipe adapted to be operatively connected with the valve and through which fluid may be conducted to said channel, and through which said valve may be adjusted to locate said port either above or beneath said anchor, and means through which said wash pipe may be operated to adjust said valve, 19. The combination with a pipe, of a valve mechanism therein, said mechanism including an anchor, a valve having a threaded connection with the anchor, and having a fluid channel leading downwardly th erethiough from the upper end thereof, a wash pipe operatively connected with the valve and through which the valve may be turned, said wash pipe being releasable from the valve, and means operatively connected with the wash pipe through which the same may be rotated.

20. The combination with a pipe, of a valve mechanism therein, said mechanism including an anchor,'a valve having a threaded connection with the anchor, and having a fluid channel leading downwardly therethrough from the upper end thereof, a wash pipe operatively connected with the valve and through which the valve may be turned, said wash pipe being releasable from the valve, and means operatively connected with i the wash pipe through which the same may be rotated said means having an adjustable connection with the wash pipe.

. 21. The combination with a well screen havingv an opening at itsdower end, of a safety plug adapted to be screwed into said opening to close the same, a wash pipe whose lower end is operatively connected with, but releasable from said plug, an operating stem connected with said screen, a wrench operatively connected with said stem and also operatively connected with the stem and also operatively connected with said wash pipe through which the wash pipe is caused to rotate with the.

stem.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

JEDDY D. NIXON; WALTER L. CHURCH. 

